Evaluation of Selected Soil Insecticides and Foliar Insecticides for Control of Banded Cucumber Beetle, Whitefringed Beetle, White Grub, and Sweetpotato Weevil, 1997

Abstract

Abstract A test was conducted in Avoyelles Parish, LA to determine the efficacy of two soil insecticides and four foliar treatments for control of above-listed insects. Treatments were arranged in a CRB design with four replications. Plots were 4 rows wide (3.5/row) and 50 ft long. Soil insecticides were applied on June 14 approximately one week before trans-planting. The cultivar ‘Beauregard’ was transplanted 19 Jun. Foliar insecticide applications were made at approximately weekly intervals starting three weeks after transplanting. A CO2-pressurized backpack sprayer was used (36 psi) with a two-row boom containing four nozzles (Cone Jet TX-lO) and calibrated to deliver 15 gallons per acre. A single sweetpotato weevil pheromone trap was used to monitor the weevil population throughout the season. Sweet-potatoes were harvested on 6 Oct and field graded into U.S. number 1, 2, or 3. From each plot, in each of the 3 grades, 25 potatoes were randomly selected and evaluated for insect damage. The number of potatoes damaged by whitefringed beetle, sweetpotato weevil, white grubs, as well as the number of holes present caused by banded cucumber beetles were counted.